Inking mechanism for printing machines



May 10, 1949. A. STOBB ET AL 2,469,795

' INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHiNES 7 Filed Jan. 16, 1945 x v 5 Sheds-Sheet 1 INVE TORS Mh A; :ORNEY May 10, 1949. A. STOBB -ET AL INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 5 Sheds-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16. 1945 lNV NTORS ATT RNEY.

May 10, 1949. A. STOBB EI'AL INKI'NG MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENlORS BY ATI%RNEY Filed Jan. 16, 1945 May 10, 1949. A. STOBB ET AL INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented May 10, 1949 Anton Stobb, Westfleld, and Alexander J. Ai-

brecht, West New York, N. J., aasignors to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New-York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 16, 1945, Serial N6. 573,038

This invention relates to inking mechanisms for printing machines, especially those used for printing newspapers, and more particularly to an improved ink pump and associated devices, for use in selectively supplying a plurality of kinds of ink under pressure, to an ink'distributing cylinder in regulated quantity, and whereby the amount and color of ink supplied to each of a plurality of sections of a printing form, may be varied as required by the matter to be printed.

An object of this invention is to provide in an inking mechanism, means whereby the ink being supplied to a selected portion of the printing form may be expeditiously changed from ink of one color to ink of another color.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an inking mechanism, means to expeditiously cleanse the mechanism of ink when it is desired to change the ink.

Still another object is to provide in an inking mechanism, an improved form of pump mechanism, the moving parts of which may be emciently lubricated automatically.

A further object is to provide in an inking mechanism, means whereby the pump mechanism may be selectively actuated by the printing machine drive or by a separate motor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an inking mechanism of improved construction, that will be simple, durable, and relatively inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eflicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, that will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details. of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a portion of a printing machine having an inking mechanism embodying the features and principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the ink pump operating mechanism as seen on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 2A is a fragmentary view showing addi- 17 Claims. (Cl- 101-350) Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen on the broken line 66 of Figure 4;

' Figure? is a sectional view generally similar to Figure l, as seen on the line 'l'l of Figure 9, but showing a motor and. driving connections for operating the inking mechanism separately from the printing machine;

Figure Bis a fragmentary view as seen in the direction of arrow 8 in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view as seen on the line 9-9 of Figure 'l in the direction of the arrow; Figure 10 is a front view of a portion of the pump mechanism, as seen in the direction of arrows III of Figure 2, with some of the parts removed;

Figure 11 is a front view of a printing unit of a printing machine having the inking mechanism of the invention, and includes the portion of the machine seen in the direction of arrow ll of Figure 1; and

Figure 11A is a fragmentary plan view partly in section, as seen on the broken line lIA-l IA of Figure 11, and in the direction of the arrow. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views a portion of a printing machine frame I2 is shown, including portions of ink cylinders l3 and N, a printing cylinder gear l5, and a portion of a housing wall [8 enclosin part of the driving mechanism of the printing machine, ink is supplied to the ink cylinder 13 from an ink rail l8, which as herein shown, is'secured by screws 19, to a bracket 2| which supports a pump mechanism 22, the rail I8 and the pump mechanism 22 being movable vertically as a unit. The inkrail I8 is guided for vertical movement by a bearing plate 24 (Figure 7) which is secured to its remote end by screws 20, and slidingly engages the inner surface of a frame member 25 of the printing machine, and by flanges 26 and 21 of the bracket 2|, which slidingly engage the outer and inner surfaces respectively. of the printing machine frame I2. The pump mechanism 22 is connected by flexible ink conduits 28 (four being provided in this instance), to a multiple color ink selecting valve tional details of the ink pump operating mechanism as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the pump mechanism as seen on the line 3'3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of an ink color selecting valve device included in the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view as seen in a plane indicated by the lines 5-5 ofFigure 4;

device orcolor selector 29 suitably secured to the outer housing wall I 6.

The ink pump 22 is arranged to supply ink to outlets 3| of the ink rail l8 through tubes 32. As

herein shown, the pump 22 (Figure 2) is provided with four groups of outlets'33, to supply ink to thirty-two tubes 32, whereby four rail sections each having eight outlets 3! may be supplied with 3 ink from the same pump 22. Each rail section supplies ink to a section of the ink cylinder l3, corresponding to the width of a page of a newspaper and each rail outlet 3| supplies ink to an area of the cylinder corresponding to the width of a column on a page. The pump 22 is provided with four inlets 34 (Figure 1), one for each rail section, and each is connected by a flexible conduit 28 to an outlet 35 of the color selector 29 (Figures 4 to 6) The color selector 29 is arranged to supply ink of four colors (usually yellow, red, blue and black), to each of the four pump inlets 34, and makes it possible to print each page in the color desired.

The color valve device 29 as shown in Figures 4, and 6, is devised with four five-way valves 88 in a block 31 having five inlet ports 38, 39, 4|, 42 and 43, connecting with passageways 44, 45, 48, 41 and 48 respectively. The passageways are connected by short passages 48, with tapered bores 51, 52, 53 and 54, in each of which a rotatable valve member or rotor 55 is fitted and secured therein by a nut 56 and a spring washer 51. The valve rotors 55 are eachprovided with a central bore 58, and each has five ports 59, extending radially from the central bore 58 to its periphery, equally spaced thereabout, and each in horizontal alignment with one of the passages 48. Each valve rotor is provided with a square head 63 formed to receive a wrench which may be operated from the front of the machine as indicated by dotted outline in Figure 1. At the large diameter end of each valve rotor 55 (Figures 5 and 6), an annular groove 6| is provided and connected to the central bore 58 by a cross passageway 62. Each annular groove 6| is always in communication with its outlet port 35 which is connected to its pump inlet 34.

The inlet ports 38, 38, 4| and 42 of the color valve device are each connected to a different source of ink preferably supplied under pressure, and it will be seen that by turning the several valve rotors 55, to the proper positions, ink

from any of the sources can be directed to the source of cleaning fluid, whereby the various ink pump parts and ducts, and the passages in the ink rail may be cleaned of ink,.before using other ink. Alternatively, the, port 48 may be connected to a supply of compressed air, to blow out the ink passages.

The flexible conduits 28 direct ink to the four pump inlets 34 (Figure '2) which extend through pump blocks 64. For the ink pump herein shown, there are eight inlet valve chambers 65 communicating with each inlet bore 34, by means of ports 66 each of which ports is normally closed by a ball 61 under the urge of a spring 88. Each of the inlet valve chambers 65 is connected to a pump cylinder 68 by a passageway H. The pump cylinders 89 lead directly into outlet valve chambers 12, the connecting passage being normally closed by a ball 13 under the urge of a spring 14. The outlet chambers 12 communicate with the outlets 33'. A piston rod is arranged to reciprocate in each pump cylinder 69 to draw in ink from the inlet chambers 85 and to force it out through the outlet chambers 12. The outlet chambers being in communication with the tubes 32 through the outlet ports 33, the ink is forced to the rail openings 3i and is discharged onto the ink distributing cylinder l3.

Power to reciprocate the piston rods 15 is taken from a splined shaft 84 that is driven by the machine. A worm gear 85 is fitted to slide on the splined shaft and meshes with a worm wheel 86 having a shaft 81, which is rotatably supported in bearing plates 80a and 80b, that form part of the pump frame. End portions 88 of the shaft 81 are made eccentric thereto to form cranks, and a crank arm 88 embraces each of these cranks 88. The opposite ends of the crank arms are pivotally connected to wrist pins 8| suitably secured in a plate 16. Guide studs 8| are suitably secured to the plate 18 and are arranged to slide in bushings 10a and 18b, secured in a front plate pump member 82 and in pump blocks 64, respectively. The front plate 82 is secured to pump side frames 90a and 80b (Figure 3), by screws 83. It will be seen (Figure 2),

that rotation of the worm wheel 88 will operate the cranks 88, and reciprocate the plate 18 in a horizontal plane.

The piston rods 15 have collars ll fixed thereon, which are normally held against the plate 18 by springs 18 that are held under compression by cupped washers l8 pinned to the piston rods 15. Reciprocation of the plate 16 will thus simultaneously reciprocate all of the piston rods 15 and force ink into the tubes 32 that lead it to the ink rail. The stroke of each piston rod 15 may be adjusted to regulate the quantity of ink forced into the respective tube 32 by means of an adjusting screw 92, which is screw-threaded into the front plate 82, and has its outer end knurled for manual manipulation. These adjusting screws 92 are formed with a stop collar 82 and are axially bored and counterbored (Figure 2A), and each adjusting screw carries a push rod 82a that is fitted to slide therein. The push rods 92a are each formed with a stem 82b and an inner head 920, which engages the piston rod 15 when the rod is in the position shown in Figures 2 and 2A. A spring 92d surrounds the stem 82b and biases the push rod outwardly. When an adjusting screw 92 is screwed further into the plate 82, it forms a stop to limit the stroke of the piston rod 15, and as the stroke is shortened, the quantity of ink delivered, is correspondingly reduced. If the adjusting screw is turned until the collar 82' strikes the front plate 82, the piston rod 15 will not be reciprocated.

Each of the piston rods 15 is provided with a reduced diameter axial extension 15a, which when the push rod 92a is pushed inward, will engage the ball 13 and open the outlet 12 from the cylinder 69. It is desirable that'the fluid pressure maintained in the reservoirs, which supply ink to the pump, and the spring pressure maintained on the balls 61, be so related that the fiuid pressure will lift the ball 81 from its seat, and ink will fiow through the pump whenever the push rod 92a is pressed sufllciently to lift the ball 13 from its seat. The pump outlet spring 14 should have sufiicient strength, however, to hold the ball 13 on its seat against the fluid pressure of the ink supply system. It will be understood that when the pump is being driven, opening any of the pump outlets by pressing the push rod 920. will cause a continuous flow of ink to pass through the pump and to the ink rail, thus permitting an operator to temporarily increase the supply of ink to any section of the form without disturbing the normal running adjustment of the pump. Furthermore, if after cleaning the pump, or when the machine has stood idle for a considerable period, an air lock is formed in any of the pump cylinders, it may be cleared by pressing the corresponding push rod 92a, and allowing the pump cylinder to fill with ink.

The piston rods I5 are lubricated through bores 93 provided in the blocks 64, which bores connect through cross bores 94 with oil pipes 95. that are supplied with lubricating oil under pressure. It is desirable that the pressure of the lubricant be suflicient to counteract the pressure of the ink and form a seal between the rods 15 and the cylinders 69 to prevent the escape of ink past the piston rods I5. Other operating parts of the pump mechanism are lubricated by the splash of lubricant supplied to the housing II by a circulating system (not shown). The cover 23 of the pump mechanism (Figure 11A) is pressed against the housing wall I6 to prevent oil leakage, by means of springs 96, supported on screws 91, which are screw-threaded into the plate 82, and the cover 23 is thus drawn toward the plate and against the wall I6.

As shown in Figure 1, the pump driving shaft 84 extends upwardly from the pump housing and has a bevel gear IOI secured thereto and in mesh with a bevel gear I02 secured to a shaft I03. The shaft I03 is rotatably supported in a carrier I04 and a bearing block III. A shift rod I05 slidably supported in the carrier I04 carries a shifter fork I06 which engages a clutch part I01. This clutch part is slidable, but not rotatable on the shaft I03, and is adapted to engage another clutch part I08 secured to the side of a gear I09, that is freely rotatable on the shaft I03. The gear I09 is in mesh with the printing machine gear I5. The shift rod I05 extends outwardly beyond the wall I6 of the housing II and is provided with a hand knob II2, whereby the clutch part I01 may be disengaged to permit operation ofthe machine without driving the pump. The shaft I03 extends outwardly through the wall I6 and is provided with a crank engaging terminal I I3, whereby the pump may be manually operated by a crank or other suitable tool, when the clutch I! is disengaged.

In the modified pump driving arrangement shown in Figure 7, the shaft 84 is slidable in a bearing H4 and a bevel gear I I is secured to its upper end. The bevel gear H5 is arranged to mesh with a bevel gear H6, formed on a sleeve II8 that is rotatably supported on a shaft II1 secured to and extending outwardly from the frame I2. A bracket H0 is secured to the outer end of the shaft III and rotatably supports the upper end of the shaft 84. A spur gear H9 also, is formed on the sleeve H8 and is in mesh with the printing machine gear I5. A collar I20 (Figures 7 and 8) is secured to the shaft 84, and rests on a shift block I2I through which the shaft 84 passes. The shift block I2I is slidingly mounted in a bracket I22 attached to the housing wall I6. The shaft 84 extends through the bracket I22 and a gear I23 is secured thereon which is in mesh with a gear I24 mounted on the shaft of an electric motor I25. The shift block I2I is arranged to be shifted in the bracket I22 by a lever I26 secured to a shaft I28 that extends through the housing wall I6, an operating handle I29 being secured to the outer end of the shaft I28. Swinging movement of the handle I29 from the position shown will raise the shaft 84 and engage the bevel gears H5 and H8 and simultaneously disengage .the gears I23 and I24 to connect the pump 22 with the printing machine. The handle may be locked in either position by a spring pin which engages holes I2I in the housing wall I6. When disengaged from the printing machine drive and connected to the motor, the pump 22 can be driven without running the machine, to flush the ink system with cleaning fluid or to hasten the flow of ink to the cylinders.

The means for vertically adjusting the rail I8 and with it the pump 22, includes a fluid pressure cylinder I3I located'at each end of the rail I8 and mounted on a supporting bar I32 (Figure 1), which extends from the front printing machine frame I2 to the rear frame 25 (Figure 7). Each of the cylinders I3I has an inlet port I33 through which fluid under pressure may enter and exhaust, to act upon a piston I84, and suitable valve mechanism with pipe connections to a source of fluid supply (not shown) are provided. A piston rod I35 secured to each piston I34 extends upwardly and is secured to the rail I8. A leaf spring I36 is arranged to react between a shoulder I31 on the rod I35 and the rail I8 t0 resiliently press ink rail members I38 and I39 (Figure 9) against the ink cylinder I3, when the piston is raised to its upper limit of travel. An arm MI is secured to and extends downwardly from each end of the rail I8 adjacent each cylinder I3I and has rack teeth I42 formed on its lower portion. An equalizing shaft I43, one end of which is shown in-Figure 1 journaled at each end in an arm I4I secured to the rail I8, has gear teeth I44 formed on each of its ends, and the teeth I44 being in mesh with the rack teeth I42, the movement of both ends of the rail I8 is equalized.

The opposing rail members I38 and I39 (Figure 9) are mounted upon the upper surface of the body of the rail I8 and screws I45 clamp a space plate I48 between the members I38 and I33. Semi-circular grooves I41 and I48 in the members I38 and I39 respectively, form ports aligned with the tubes 32. Portions of the space plate I46, best seen in Figure 'i, are cut away to form separate openings 3|, through which the ink from each tube 32 is led to a particular area, of the ink cylinder I3, from which area ink is supplied for a column of the printing.

In order that the rail I9 may be used with a distributing cylinder I3 running in either direc-- tion, the rail members I38 and I39 are arranged to be shifted transversely of the rail and tangentially with respect to the cylinder, to position the arcuate upper surface of the members I38 or I39 closer to the side of the cylinder I3 that is rotating upwardly. This is done to insure distribution of ink on the cylinder in a film of even thickness. The shifting of the members I38 and I39 is accomplished by two sets of screws I49 and I5I, all of which are operable from the same side of the machine. The screw I49 passes through the member I38 downwardly at an oblique angle and is screw-threaded into the body of the rail I8 with its head engaging the rail member I38 up- I on a shoulder I52, provided in the member I38. The screw I 5I passes upwardly at an oblique angle through the body of the rail I8 and is screw-threaded into the rail member I39 with.

its head engaging the body of the rail I8 upon a shoulder I53 provided therein. As shown in Figure 9, the rail is adjusted for the cylinder rotation indicated by the arrow. By loosening the screw I49 and tightening of the screw I5I, the rail members I38 and I39 may be shifted so the member I39 will properly engage the cylinder I3 when it is rotated opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow. In their movements the rail members ride upon a tongue I54 formed on the body of the rail I8, shoulders I55 and I56 being formed in the members I38 and I39 respectively, to limit the shifting movement thereof by engagement with the sides of the tongue I54.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that an inking mechanism has been provided which when suitably connected to a plurality of sources of ink supply, will feed ink of any of the kinds available to each of a plurality of sections of a printing form. A change from ink of one kind to ink of another kind may be made at will, and if desired, each section of the form may be supplied with ink of a difierent color. The ink pump is contained wholly within an oil-tight enclosure,

for operation by means of a wrench inserted through the floor.

. It will also be seen that the ink rail whereby the ink is applied to the ink cylinder is readily adjustable for operation of the printing cylinders in either direction, and the arrangement of the pump is such that no adjustment is required to permit operation of the machine in the opposite direction.

The term ink as used herein, is intended to include other liquids that may be used for printing or coating.

The invention may also be used advantageously in lithographic printing machines to supply moisture to the printing plates.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the claims rather than to the foregoing description for an indication of the scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine having an ink distributing cylinder, an ink rail extending along the cylinder and slidably carrying a cylinder engaging member for adjustment tangentially in respect to the cylinder, the said ink rail and cylinder engaging member having channels communicating with each other, with the cylinder engaging member in difierent positions of adjustment relative to said ink rail, for supplying ink from said ink rail to said cylindeiengaging member for application to the cylinder, an ink pump connected with the ink rail channels to supply ink thereto for application onto the cylinder through the channels of the cylinder engaging member, a bracket on the ink rail and supporting the pump, means operable from one side of the ink rail to adjust the cylinder engaging member tangentially, and means to move the rail and the pump vertically in unison, toward and away from the cylinder.

2. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine having an ink distributing cylinder, an ink rail extending along the ink distributing cylinder and having a cylinder engaging member adjustable tangentially in respect to the said cylinder, an ink pump connected with the cylinder engaging member to supply ink thereto for application onto the cylinder, a bracket supporting the pump on the ink rail, means operable from one side of the ink rail to adjust the cylinder engaging member tangentially, a fluid receiving cylinder at each end of the rail, a piston in each cylinder adapted to be acted upon by fluid pressure, and a spring connecting each piston with the rail whereby the rail and the pump will be raised in unison when fluid under pressure is directed into the cylinder and the cylinder engaging member will be resiliently pressed against the ink distributing cylinder.

.3. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine slidably carrying an ink distributing cylinder, an ink rail extending along the ink distributing cylinder and having a cylinder engaging member for adjustment tangentially in respect to the said cylinder, the said ink rail andcylinder engagin member having channels communicating with each other, with the cylinder engaging member in different positions of adjustment relative to said ink rail, for supplying ink from-said ink rail to said cylinder engaging member for application to the cylinder, an ink pump connected with the ink rail channels to supply ink thereto for application through the channels of the cylinder engaging member onto the cylinder,

a bracket secured to the ink railand supporting the pump, adjusting means comprising screwthreaded devices extending into the cylinder engaging member tangentially and all operable from one side of the-ink rail, to adjust the member tangentially to the cylinder, and means to move the rail and the pump vertically in unison, toward and away from the cylinder.

4. In an inking mechanism for'a printing machine having an ink distributing cylinder, an ink rail extending along the ink distributing cylinder and having a cylinder engaging member adjustable tangentially in respect to the said cylinder, an ink pump in connectionwith the cylinder engaging member to supply ink thereto for application onto the cylinder, a bracket secured to the ink rail and the pump, means adapted to be operated from one side of the cylinder to adjust the cylinder engagin members transversely of the cylinder axis, a fluid receiving cylinder at each end of the ink rail, a piston in each cylinder adapted to be acted upon by fluid pressure, and a leaf spring connecting each piston with the rail whereby the rail and the pump will be raised in unison when fluid under pressure is directed into the cylinder and the cylinder engaging member will be resiliently pressed against the ink distributing cylinder, a rack at each end of the rail and a shaft extending between the racks and having gear teeth in mesh with teeth on the racks, to equalize the movement of each end of the rail.

5. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump having a plurality of groups of pistons therein, a cylinder operatively associated with eachpiston, each cylinder having an inlet and an outlet port, an ink color selector having outlet ports in connection with the inlet ports of the cylinders of each group and a plurality of separate inlet ports each connected to a different source of ink, and means in the ink color selector to direct ink to any of the groups from any of the ink sources.

6. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump having a plurality of groups of pistons therein, a cylinder operatively associated with each piston, each cylinder having an inlet and an outlet port, an ink color selector having outlet ports in connection with the inlet ports of the cylinders of each group and a plurality of separate inlet ports each connected. to

a different source of ink, an additional inlet port in the ink color selector for connection with a source of cleaning fluid and means in the ink color selector to direct ink from any of the said sources, or cleaning fluid to any of the ink outlet ports thereof. I

'7. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump having a plurality of groups of pistons therein, a cylinder operatively associated with each piston, each cylinder having an inlet and an outlet port, an ink color selector having an outlet port in connection with the inlet ports of the cylinders of each group, the ink color selector having a plurality of separate inlet ports each connected to a source of differently colored ink, and a valve device in the selector operable to direct ink of any of the colors from the inlet port for the selected color to any of the outlet ports of the ink color selector.

8. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump having a plurality of groups of pistons therein, a cylinder operatively associated with each piston, each cylinder having an inlet and an outlet port, an ink color selector having an outlet port in connection with the inlet ports of the cylinders of each group, the ink color selector having a plurality of separate inlet ports each connected to a source of diiferently colored ink, an additional inlet port in the ink color selector for connection with a source of cleaning fluid, and'a valve device in the selector operable to direct ink of any of the colors, or cleaning fluid from thecorresponding inlet port, to any of the outlet ports of the ink color selector.

9. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump having a body member, a group of cylinders formed in the body member,

.a piston reciprocable in each of the cylinders,

an inlet port and an outlet port for each cylinder, means to reciprocate the pistons, including an axially slidable shaft, a first gear driven by the machine, an electric motor. a second gear connected to one end of the shaft and arranged to mesh with the first gear, a third gear connected to the motor, and a fourth gear connected to the other end of the shaft and arranged to mesh with the third gear, and means to slide the shaft for selective operation of the pump by either the machine or the motor.

10. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a plurality of sources of ink supply, an ink pump device comprising a pump body having a plurality of ink passageways formed therein, a plurality of groups of cylinders formed in the pump body, valve controlled inlet ports connecting each cylinder of each group with one of the ink passageways, a valve controlled outlet port for each cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, means to reciprocate the pistons, and means to selectively connect each of the ink passagewaysto any of the said sources of ink supply.

11. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump device comprising a pump body having a plurality of ink passageways formed therein, a plurality of groups of cylinders formed in the pump body, valve controlled inlet ports connecting the cylinders of each group with one of the ink passageways, a valve controlled outlet port for each cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, means to reciprocate the pistons, a plurality of sources of ink supply, and an ink selector having a plurality of outlets each of which is connected to one of the ink passageways in the pump body and having means to selectively connect any one of the sources of ink supply to any one of the selector outlets to supply any one of the ink passageways with ink from any one of the sources of supply.

12. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump device comprising a pump body having a plurality of ink passageways formed therein, a plurality of groups of cylinders formed in the pump body. valve controlled inlet ports connecting the cylinders of each group with one of the ink passageways, a valve controlled outlet port for each cylinder, a pise ton adapted to reciprocate in each cylinder, means to reciprocate the pistons, a plurality of sources of ink supply and a source of cleaning medium, and an ink selector having a plurality of outlets each of which is connected to one of the ink passageways in the pump body and having means to selectively connect any one of the sources of ink supply or the source of cleaning medium supply, to any one of the selector outlets to supply ink to or to clean out any group of ink passageways, ports, and cylinders.

-13. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink pump having a group of pumping members, means including an axially slidable shaft to operate the pumping members, means to slide the shaft and to secure it in a first position and a second position, a gear driven by the machine and a motor independent thereof, coupling means operable by movement of the shaft to the first position to rotatively drive the shaft from the gear and uncoupled by movement of the shaft away from the said first position, and coupling means operable when the shaft is moved to the second position to rotatively drive the shaft by the motor.

14. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine having an ink distributing member, a source of supply of ink under pressure, .an ink measuring device comprising a plurality of ink pumps, each having an inlet connection communicating with the ink supply, an outlet connection communicating with an orifice in the ink distributing member and a spring-seated liquid pressure operated outlet valve controlling flow into said outlet connection, and means for holding any of said outlet valves open for increasing the flow of ink to the corresponding orifice of the ink distributing member above the pumping rate of the associated ink pump.

15. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine having an ink distributing member, a source of supply of ink under pressure, an ink measuring device comprising a plurality of reciprocating piston ink pumps each having an inlet connection communicating with the ink supply, an outlet connection communicating with an orifice in the ink distributing member, and a spring seated pressure operated outlet valve for controlling fiow into said outlet connection, means for reciprocating the .pistons of said pumps, and means for moving a piston of a said pump to engage its associated outlet valve and hold the same open to increase the rate '01 flow of ink therethrough over the pumping rate of the pump.

16. Mechanism according to claim 15 in which the said means for reciprocating the pistons comprises springs for moving the pistons in their suction or intake strokes and the means for moving the piston to hold the associated outlet valve open comprises a member moveable to engage the end of the piston and force the same against the last said spring into position for holding open the said valve.

1'7. Mechanism according to claim 16 in which the said moveable member comprises a plunger Number adjustable to limit the suction stroke of the pis- 1,427,853

ton for regulating the pumping rate and slidabie for so moving the piston to hold open the outlet valve.

ANTON STOBB.

ALEXANDER J. ALBRECHT. 10 2,360,502

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Number Hoe June 6, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 16, 1934 

